Leathernecks have big shoes to fill at wide receiver

Tuesday

Aug 1, 2017 at 7:00 PMAug 1, 2017 at 7:04 PM

The Western Illinois offense looks pretty set at quarterback, running back and along the offensive line.While those key spots have plenty of experience and talent returning, one area the Leathernecks will need players to step up is the wide receiver spot.

SCOTT HOLLAND

The Western Illinois offense looks pretty set at quarterback, running back and along the offensive line.While those key spots have plenty of experience and talent returning, one area the Leathernecks will need players to step up is the wide receiver spot.Western loses two of the best wideouts in program history to graduation in Lance Lenoir and Joey Borsellino.Lenoir holds nearly receiving record in program history while Borsellino is in the top 10 in about every category.A year ago, the duo were one-two for the team in catches and receiving yardage, so the void left by the pair’s graduation is indeed big.But when player’s leave, an opportunity emerges and for the Leathernecks, there are plenty of players who are ready to claim their spot at the wide receiver position. “Coach Fisher’s big thing has always been next man up,” said co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Jared Elliott. “It’s a culture of competition in your program, whether it’s someone who gets injured and is a starter or through graduation, there always has to be that next man up mentality and we have that in our receiving corp. We got some guys who maybe are no-names to some people but we got a really good group there.”Elliott was not shy about targeting several players who could become impact receivers this fall.“Zeke LeSure, Jaelon Acklin, Brandon Gaston, Izaiah Fuller, we got some guys here who have bought in and are learning and retaining information very quickly and they’re making plays,” Elliott said. “We have to replace some good ones, guys who have made a lot plays. When you look at it on paper it may be a concern but we got some guys who are really good. They have to keep coming, there’s always the relationship that has to grow between a quarterback and the new receivers and younger guys but we’re getting there.”And for receivers, the competition at wideout is a reward not just for learning and growing in the offense, but being patient waiting behind Lenoir and Borsellino.“It’s awesome, I get my chance after three years behind Joey and Lance, so I want to make the most of it, have fun and do the best I can,” senior receiver Jaelon Acklin said. “We still watch film of Joey and Lance, see what they did, how they ran their routes. We’re still learning every day and getting better so we can hopefully fill their shoes.”Acklin (eight catches, 192 yards) and LeSure (30 catches, 425 yards, five touchdowns) may be the favorites to take the top two spots for Western, but finding other options will be important.“You really want to find three solid role players or people behind the top two,” Acklin said. “That was my job for the last two years and I enjoyed it because whenever those big spots come, you have to make plays.“I think Brandon Gaston (6-2, sophomore), Jarid Brown (6-0, senior) and Izaiah Fuller (6-4, junior) have all shown up the last few days in camp and will make noise this year.”The passing game will not just fall to the receivers, though.One key returner is running back Steve McShane. The 5-8 junior was fifth on the team last year in catches (23) and fourth in yards (234). McShane’s versatility and playmaking abilities could see those numbers increase this season as new wideouts get acclimated. “We ask him to do a lot of things, we’re going to move him around to a lot of places so teams can’t isolate on him,” co-offensive coordinator and tight end coach Doug Malone said. “We’re going to move him around and get him the ball a lot of different ways.”Something else that will help in the passing game is an increased focus on the tight end.Two years ago there was not a tight end on the roster, now eight players hold that designation and will be called upon to not only help in the run game, but the passing game as well.“It’s a quarterback’s best friend when you got a big body that can run and catch and we’re fortunate that we have a stable of them,” Elliott said. “That was key, when Coach Fisher took the job here, I remember our first couple days on campus was ‘how are we going to get our kinds of guys here to run this type of offense?’ and that’s not only the physicality in the running game but those kinds of weapons. They’re a hybrid player, it’s a special athlete that plays that position, the toughness to play the line and the skill set to play on the perimeter. So we’ve got a bunch of guys we can use in roles, that’s our job to sort that out and see how we can use them all.”

Reach Scott Holland via email at sholland@McDonoughVoice.com and follow him on Twitter @hottscolland81.

Communities

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The McDonough County Voice ~ 26 W. Side Square, Macomb, IL 61455 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service